MULTIPERSPECTIVAL CARTOGRAPHIES FOR DEMOCRATIC CLIMATE ADAPTATION

Abstract

Jakarta in Indonesia experiences annual fluvial, pluvial, and coastal flooding. As weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable residents regularly face extreme weather events. While the proliferation of data has been enthusiastically adopted to transform real-time response, data is meaningless without designed platforms of considered assembly. PetaBencana.id (Disaster Map Indonesia) is a free online platform that enables residents and emergency managers to map flooding in real-time. The map is used by the public, government, and business to enhance decision-making in response to flooding. Contrary to the project’s initial aim of collecting empirical information to model flood conditions, the work of mapping, cross-validating, and disseminating flood information for residents and government has become in itself a form of digital metainfrastructure that helps mitigate the impact of flooding. Resident reports are now the defacto ground truth for flood information, and are used to calibrate other sensor-platforms (e.g., satellite imagery). This essay reflects on how the map developed a methodology for collaboratively mapping the dynamic fluctuations of the city from multiple textural perspectives and at multiple scales, thereby diversifying the means and scope of participation in urban infrastructure and its response to extreme events.

Keywords

Flood / Climate / Infrastructure / Adaptation / PetaBencana.id

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